Investigating the Mechanisms Underlying U46619-Induced Contraction on Porcine Lower Esophageal Sphincter.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with an incompetent lower esophageal sphincter (LES), resulting in the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. U46619, a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor agonist, induces contractions in various smooth muscles. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of action of U46619 on the porcine LES.

Classification of Color Fundus Photographs Using Fusion Extracted Features and Customized CNN Models.

This study focuses on overcoming challenges in classifying eye diseases using color fundus photographs by leveraging deep learning techniques, aiming to enhance early detection and diagnosis accuracy. We utilized a dataset of 6392 color fundus photographs across eight disease categories, which was later augmented to 17,766 images. Five well-known convolutional neural networks (CNNs)-efficientnetb0, mobilenetv2, shufflenet, resnet50, and resnet101-and a custom-built CNN were integrated and trained on this dataset.

The joint effect of gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertension contribute to higher risk of diabetes mellitus after delivery: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) are known risk factors for postpartum diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension, respectively. This study aimed to examine the association between the co-occurrence of GDM and PIH and the subsequent development of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.

Methods: A cohort study was conducted using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (TNHIRD).

Multi-ancestry genome-wide study in >2.5 million individuals reveals heterogeneity in mechanistic pathways of type 2 diabetes and complications.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a heterogeneous disease that develops through diverse pathophysiological processes. To characterise the genetic contribution to these processes across ancestry groups, we aggregate genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from 2,535,601 individuals (39.7% non-European ancestry), including 428,452 T2D cases.

WWOX Modulates ROS-Dependent Senescence in Bladder Cancer.

The tumor-suppressor gene, WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX), has been found to be lost in various types of cancers. ROS result as a tightly regulated signaling process for the induction of cell senescence. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of WWOX in the regulation of ROS and cell senescence, which is intriguing in terms of the possible mechanism of WWOX contributing to bladder cancer.

Clinical Applications of Photofunctionalization on Dental Implant Surfaces: A Narrative Review.

Dental implant therapy is a common clinical procedure for the restoration of missing teeth. Many methods have been used to promote osseointegration for successful implant therapy, including photofunctionalization (PhF), which is defined as the modification of titanium surfaces after ultraviolet treatment. It includes the alteration of the physicochemical properties and the enhancement of biological capabilities, which can alter the surface wettability and eliminate hydrocarbons from the implant surface by a biological aging process.

Multi-ancestry genetic study of type 2 diabetes highlights the power of diverse populations for discovery and translation.

We assembled an ancestrally diverse collection of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in 180,834 affected individuals and 1,159,055 controls (48.9% non-European descent) through the Diabetes Meta-Analysis of Trans-Ethnic association studies (DIAMANTE) Consortium. Multi-ancestry GWAS meta-analysis identified 237 loci attaining stringent genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10), which were delineated to 338 distinct association signals.

The Effects of Integrated Step Training into the Physical Education Curriculum of Children with Intellectual Disabilities.

(1) Background: This study investigated the changes in step frequency, walking ability, and standing posture of students with intellectual disabilities by integrating step training into the students' physical education curriculum; (2) Methods: The centroid formula was used to estimate the geometric center of the students' bodies in video footage of each participant. Each participant's stepping frequency per minute was recorded. After training, the teachers involved were interviewed regarding the participants' everyday activities in school.

Arecae pericarpium extract induces porcine lower-esophageal-sphincter contraction via muscarinic receptors.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with lower esophageal sphincter (LES) incompetence. In some patients, GERD is refractory to acid reduction therapy which is the main treatment for GERD. So far, medications that can increase LES tone are few.

Oral Health as a Predictor of Physical Frailty among Rural Community-Dwelling Elderly in an Agricultural County of Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

We conducted a cross-sectional study to clarify the relationship between oral health and physical frailty (PF). A sample of 903 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 65 years were enrolled from random communities in Chiayi County. The self-perceived oral health (SPOH) and oral health assessment tool (OHAT), which consists of eight items, was used for the evaluation of their oral health status.

Fabrication, optimisation and evaluation of cisplatin-loaded nanostructured carriers for improved urothelium permeability for intravesical administration.

Aim: To design microemulsions as carriers to improve cisplatin permeation capability for intravesical administration.

Method: The response surface methodology with factorial design was used to investigate and optimise the influence of the compositions e.g.

The Effect of Polybutylcyanoacrylate Nanoparticles as a Protos Delivery Vehicle on Dental Bone Formation.

Background: Dental implants are commonly used for missing teeth, for which success depends heavily on the quality of the alveolar bone. The creation of an ideal implant site is a key component in shortening the treatment time, which remains clinically challenging. Strontium ranelate (Protos) is an anti-osteoporotic agent which has previously been used to promote bone formation, however the systemic use of Protos has been linked to serious cardiovascular and venous thromboembolic events, thus local delivery strategies may be better suited for this purpose.

Association of an IGHV3-66 gene variant with Kawasaki disease.

In a meta-analysis of three GWAS for susceptibility to Kawasaki disease (KD) conducted in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan and follow-up studies with a total of 11,265 subjects (3428 cases and 7837 controls), a significantly associated SNV in the immunoglobulin heavy variable gene (IGHV) cluster in 14q33.32 was identified (rs4774175; OR = 1.20, P = 6.

Gel-Based Nanocarrier for Intravesical Chemotherapy Delivery: In Vitro and In Vivo Study.

Intravesical administration of chemotherapeutic agents can enhance drug accumulation in tumors and reduce systemic side effects. Nanocarriers were developed for intravesical administration and exploit the permeation enhancement effect. In vitro permeation evaluation, the drug transdermal amount and accumulation amounts in the tissue of gemcitabine-loaded nanocarriers through biological membrane significantly increased about 14.

Co-Delivery of Cisplatin and Gemcitabine via Viscous Nanoemulsion for Potential Synergistic Intravesical Chemotherapy.

Combined chemotherapy is an effective and safe treatment for cancers. Co-administration of cisplatin and gemcitabine produces a synergistic effect for bladder cancer treatment, so viscous microemulsions were developed for co-delivery of cisplatin and gemcitabine to extend the retention time and improve the permeability of chemotherapeutic drugs into the urothelium by intravesical administration. Results showed that the deposition amounts of cisplatin and gemcitabine significantly increased in in vitro and in vivo study.

Identification of type 2 diabetes loci in 433,540 East Asian individuals.

Meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 240 loci that are associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, most of these loci have been identified in analyses of individuals with European ancestry. Here, to examine T2D risk in East Asian individuals, we carried out a meta-analysis of GWAS data from 77,418 individuals with T2D and 356,122 healthy control individuals. In the main analysis, we identified 301 distinct association signals at 183 loci, and across T2D association models with and without consideration of body mass index and sex, we identified 61 loci that are newly implicated in predisposition to T2D.

Glucose transporter 10 modulates adipogenesis via an ascorbic acid-mediated pathway to protect mice against diet-induced metabolic dysregulation.

The development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) depends on interactions between genetic and environmental factors, and a better understanding of gene-diet interactions in T2DM will be useful for disease prediction and prevention. Ascorbic acid has been proposed to reduce the risk of T2DM. However, the links between ascorbic acid and metabolic consequences are not fully understood.

Risk factors associated with early failure of maxillary versus mandibular implants: A retrospective study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with failure of maxillary and mandibular dental implants before permanent crown placement.

Materials And Methods: The present study included adults who underwent dental implantation between January 2003 and December 2016. Implant failure before the permanent prosthesis placement was defined as early implant failure.

Long-Chain Fatty Acid Receptors Mediate Relaxation of the Porcine Lower Esophageal Sphincter.

Long-chain fatty acids activate the free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFA1) and FFA4. In the gastrointestinal system, FFA1 and FFA4 have been found in the pancreas and intestine. Fatty food and decreased lower esophageal sphincter (LES) motility are associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease.